Date: Wed, 1 Nov 1995 02:31:40 -0500
From: didom@usa1.com (Claude DiDomenica)
Subject: The CAT Chronicle for 10-27-95
ISSN 1084-5585
THE CAT CHRONICLE
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* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE *
* October 27, 1995 *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Children's Animated Television (CAT) is a 501-C-3 non-profit
organization that produces educational videos for children and
teens on contemporary social issues such as AIDS, diversity,
violence and GLB teen self esteem. CAT also provides as a public
service a BBS, a weekly full color newsletter and a Web site for
the family of the future: http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/
* Please note a full color version of this newsletter is
available on the World Wide Web:
http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/newslett/newslett.html/
Quote of the Week:
"Life is like the game of football:
Stay humble or fumble..."
---Quai Chang Furball
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CAT Currents...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CAT is proud to announce a new sponsor, People Link, of Brooklyn,
New York. People Link helps progressive organizations and socially
responsible companies communicate with others through the use of
communications technology. They are a subsidiary of Lopez
Communications.
A few months ago, CAT's own Claude DiDomenica was cruising the Web
looking (as usual) for help or links to our Web site. From a list of
non-profit related Web sites, he happened to find People Link. Since
the People Link homepage said that "We love E-mail!", he left a
brief note... A friendly gent named Alfredo Lopez E-mailed Claude
back and said he loved the CAT homepage! Alfredo has since become one
of CAT's best friends and supporters. He has promised to put the full
weight of Lopez Communications behind our latest CAT project, now
under construction. "Project One Earth, One People" is our new effort
to end all forms of discrimination. According to Alfredo, "We've
(Lopez Communications) been in business since 1985 and have seven or
eight people working here and another dozen or so who work on
particular projects and are considered part of our family. Small firm
but pretty large for a progressive firm."
Claude recently said, "Alfredo has been a godsend. Bessie and I were
literally ready to terminate CAT. It has been very hard to get any
financial support." But last week, Bessie and I took a trip to New
York City. Lopez Communications had arranged a meeting for people
who were fighting to keep "Channel 1" from invading the public
schools in New York state. Alfredo and his wonderful staff did an
excellent job of educating the audience about the "Channel 1"
controversy. Many children in the inner city public schools are
forced to view commercial television in their classrooms. Commercials
have no place in our public schools.
Towards the end of the meeting, Alfredo told the audience that Bessie
and Claude had traveled all the way from Boston to attend the meeting.
He said that CAT is an outstanding example of alternatives to
commercial television in the classroom, and to show folks there _IS_
good television out there. He said we were about to fold up and
people should support us.
Alfredo, since you are a subscriber to this newsletter and may be
reading this, please accept our most sincere THANKS and love! You
really have kept the flame burning for us.
As Alfredo says: "Abrazos!" (hugs!)
Please contact Alfredo and thank him for helping CAT:
Alfredo Lopez
Please also visit our revamped homepage, complete with a logo and
link to People Link:
http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/
Next week, we will tell you about another new partnership we are
developing with Ed Wondoloski, Professor at Bently College...
The disABLEd Corner
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This week I'd like to talk about a barrier of a different sort. You
have heard of the physical barriers that persons with disabilities
have to overcome. But there is another type of barrier. This is an
insidious barrier that is harder to conquer because it's invisible.
It is called an attitudinal barrier.
What is an attitudinal barrier? It is the attitude that many people
have towards disabled people. It's the way that people ignore or shun
the disabled. For example, a person in a wheelchair is dining out
with their spouse. When most people talk with the couple, they seldom
talk directly to the person in the wheelchair. They would rather talk
with the spouse and ignore the disabled person, just like the person
wasn't there. "How is your husband doing these days? Has he gotten
any better?" You've probably seen this kind of behavior at one time
or another. This particular type of barrier is not something
dangerous, or horrible. But it is just plain rude. If it makes you
uncomfortable to talk with the disabled person, think how it makes
them feel when you ignore them!
When you wish to speak to someone in a wheelchair, LOOK at them and
talk TO them. Be mindful that if you want to carry on an extended
conversation with the person, sit down and be comfortable. Talk with
the person face to face. The person in the wheelchair can get a stiff
neck from looking up at you!
Other forms of attitudinal barriers are not so harmless. For example,
an employer does not hire someone because they are disabled. This is
not only wrong, it is also illegal in most instances.
One attitude that really sets me off is the attitude of teenagers who
laugh at and mock handicapped people. I use a wheelchair and portable
respirator. I have used these for some time, but I will never get
used to older teenagers who point, laugh and mock me. I try to
remember that some day those people may be disabled, and maybe then
they will look at the situation with more maturity...
When I ride my motorized wheelchair in the malls and stores, little
children always find it fascinating. Children ask their parents for
one of their own for Christmas or their birthday! But here too is
another form of an attitudinal barrier. When the young children
approach me to ask about my wheelchair, in most instances their
parents pull them back and hush them. Parents, remember: it's okay to
let your children ask about what happened, or how does a wheelchair
work. Children have a genuine and innocent curiosity. When a parent
moves the child away from the disabled person, they are unwittingly
teaching the child to shun others who may not be able-bodied.
Next week I'll take you into the darker side of attitudinal barriers.
This includes the deliberate abuse of disabled persons and hate
crimes. It's an ugly subject and an ugly crime. Perhaps by exposing
them to the light of day, we can start to solve the problems.
Rev. Jim
E-Mail: IRISH38@aol.com
Web site: http://pages.prodigy.com/OH/zrjj15a/revjim.html
Parent's Corner...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tip of the Week: When and where do accidents happen?
Accidents are most likely to occur:
* When the adults taking care of the child do not understand a
child's abilities at various stages of development
* When the dinner hour approaches, and the later part of the week.
Saturday is the worst day for accidents
* When a child is hungry, tired, angry, or confused
* When there is a major, disruptive change in the child's life
* When the child is being supervised by an adult who is unfamiliar
with their routine
Here are the most common accidents for children based on age:
Newborn - 6 months
------------------
* Automobile accidents
* Diaper changing table falls
* Bath water burns
* Crib accidents
6-12 months
-----------
* Automobile accidents
* Falls against sharp furniture
* Electric burns from chewing on appliance cords
* Injuries related to toys
* High chair/walker/stroller accidents
1-2 years old
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* Automobile accidents
* Exploring or climbing accidents
* Cuts (usually from knives)
* Eating poisonous plants
* Accidental drownings
3-5 years old
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* Automobile accidents
* Yard and street accidents
* Playground accidents
* Fire accidents
* Accidental drownings
There are dangers to children everywhere. An ounce of prevention
and some common sense can help to avoid most of these accidents.
Jeff Sam
Volunteer Child Safety & Parents Coordinator,
Co-Sysop of Dr Furball's BBS and CAT's Co-Webmeister
Internet Address: jsam@usa1.com
Please visit Jeff's Sam's Child Safety and Parenting Web page:
http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/jeffsam/jeffsam.html/
GLB Youth Advisor:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CAT's current video project is on GLB teen self esteem. Our goal
is to help put a stop to the unacceptably high rate of GLB teen
depression and suicide. We also believe there is a direct correlation
between low self esteem and unsafe sex practices. To this aim, as a
public service we present to you the GLB Youth Advisor...
Alarming News
-------------
This week, I'll share with you some frightening news received from a
group dedicated to ending homophobia in our schools and our society.
Please take a moment to read this information forwarded to us from
the P.E.R.S.O.N. Project (Public Education Regarding Sexually
Orientation Nationally)
CAT donates a Web page to P.E.R.S.O.N.
http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/glb/person.html/
[P.E.R.S.O.N. Project note:
DELAWARE's DEPT. of Ed. IS ONE WHICH DID NOT REPLY TO ANY OF OUR
MULTIPLE REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION when we were writing our organizing
manual on textbook/curriculum adoption policies for each state.
Clearly, Delaware's Dept. of Ed. needs to do some serious
anti-homophobia work RIGHT AWAY. Please send your thoughts about the
below sickening, preventable tragedy to:
Superintendent of Public Instruction
State Dept of Public Instruction
Townsend Bldg., P.O. Box 1402
Dover DE 19903
State News, PO Box 737
Dover, DE 19901
(Fax 302-674-3609, print run 31,800)
The News Journal, Box 15505
Wilmington, DE 19720
(Fax 513-382-4392, print run 119,300)]
ASSOCIATED PRESS - Friday October 27, 1995
SLAIN BOY HAD FOUGHT WITH KILLER'S BROTHER
Middletown, Del.- The other kids used to tease 9-year-old Steven
Wilson for playing with Barbie dolls and girls. When other boys
called him "faggot" and "queer," he would become enraged, curse them
and run. Most times, the children were allowed to work it out for
themselves. But earlier this month, Steven's mother, Karen Wilson,
had to step in when she found her son choking a 7-year-old neighbor
boy. "Stevie had the little boy on the ground, where he couldn't
breathe. I didn't want him to hurt him or anything," Wilson said.
A week later, Steven was found dead in a drainage ditch a mile from
his home. He had been raped, beaten with a log and drowned. Lamount
Harden - the 15-year-old big brother of the boy Steven had choked was
charged with the crime. Lamount confessed after his muddy jeans were
found in a trash can at the apartment complex where Steven lived,
according to a police affidavit. Police have refused to give a
motive.
"The killing has changed Middletown forever," said Bonnie Campbell,
owner of a doll shop on Main Street in the community of about 5,000
surrounded by farm fields 20 miles south of Wilmington. "This is the
shame of our society," she said. "The children don't have the time to
enjoy their childhood, a protected childhood. They're handed the
horrors of society on a dirty plate."
Prosecutors will seek life in prison for Lamount, who lived with his
mother and two younger brothers almost directly across from the
Wilsons. The boy is being held on more than $1 million bail.
Steven was last seen alive Oct. 14 while playing with other children
in the courtyard of the 60-unit Middletown Trace Apartments.
Mike Reddin
Volunteer GLB Youth Advisor
for Children's Animated Television
Internet Address: wxman@pcix.com
Mike has an area on our Web site dedicated to GLB youth:
http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/glb/glb.html/
"The problems faced by GLB youth
are a national disgrace and tragedy"
--- Claude DiDomenica, Children's Animated Television
What if???
~~~~~~~~~~
Our President, Claude DiDomenica writes this weekly column to
stimulate the minds of our youth and adults who haven't lost
their "youthful imaginations..."
Hi! This week, I am taking a break and Bessie, our
Executive Director wrote this column...
What if we had a "Peace on Earth Month" ???
Each day people would perform some act of kindness toward other human
beings... Governments would create programs for people to encourage
self-reliance, social stability and end the violence in their
societies. Hatred, jealousies and petty human endeavors would give
way to a world of unity and tolerance. We would celebrate a month
without wars to take over their neighbors land, or to get sell more
drugs than the next guy...
What if each person on this planet tried to give peace a chance...
a chance to heal our wounded spirits... a chance to give ALL children
the power to build a better future for themselves... a chance to
recapture those good feelings we used to have about our communities.
"Imagine no possessions...
I wonder if you can???
No more fear or hunger...
A brotherhood of man..."
---John Lennon
Bessie Hadley
The CAT Credo...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Children's Animated Television (CAT) believes in a positive future
for all children...
CAT's philosophy is to help solve today's complex social problems
through honest and open dialogue, education, information and
compromise...
CAT will produce video programs for pre-teens and teens to stimulate
their minds, harness their creativity and imaginations to cultivate
long-lasting answers to problems in their world...
As a public service, CAT will also provide educational information
using all available technology including a computer bulletin board,
World Wide Web site and other electronic media. CAT will supply this
knowledge for children, parents and educators to enable our society
to develop ideas and solutions for a better tomorrow...
Claude DiDomenica & Bessie Hadley
Founders of Children's Animated Television
July 15, 1995
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NOTE: The opinions expressed in this newsletter are not
necessarily those of Children's Animated Television. Use any
advice or information at your own risk.
To subscribe to "The CAT Chronicle" via E-Mail:
E-Mail to didom@usa1.com Subject: Subscribe CAT Chronicle
CAT is a 501-C-3 non-profit organization and all donations
are tax-deductible as allowed by law.
Contact Information:
Bessie Hadley
Executive Director
Children's Animated Television, Inc.
1492 Highland Ave, Suite 3
Needham, MA 02192 USA
Voice: 617-449-9699 FAX: 617-449-2238
Dr Furball's BBS: 617-455-8415 node 1 617-433-0026 node 2
Internet: hadley@usa1.com
Claude DiDomenica
President of CAT and Sysop of Dr Furball's BBS
Internet: didom@usa1.com
CAT's WEB Home Page!!! http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/
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Copyright 1995 Children's Animated Television, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
This newsletter may be freely distributed as long as it remains
intact and this notice is not removed. Please do not post on USENET,
FIDONET, WILDNET etc. without permission of the conference moderator.
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Children's Animated Television CAT a 501-C-3 non-profit organization
Claude DiDomenica * didom@usa1.com * President of CAT
Web Homepage http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/ Top 5% of ALL Web Sites!
Providing hope and information for "The Family of the Future"
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